Goalkeepers: Familiar faces here, so not that much too say, though surprising to see 4 goalkeepers selected. Is a starting cap in line for Daegu’s Cho Hyunwoo, who’s now been called up to his second national team training camp?

Defenders: More familiar faces. On one hand, this can be understood – we all know that it takes time for defenders to develop chemistry and get used to one other, and that it takes just one weak link for a defensive line to crumble, hence the need for coherence. On the other hand, it is mind-bogglingly frustrating that our current first choice centreback pairing (Hong Jeongho and Jang Hyunsoo) have between them only 8 starts this season – Hong not having played since April and Jang with a solitary start all season… in the CSL.

Perhaps, Steve Han, as he often does, has a point on other centrebacks being wrongfully ignored…

On the wing back positions, I do think Stielike’s missed a chance to call-up promising fullback Chung Woon of Jeju who has impressed with his penetrative attacking ability. That said, I guess it’s fair enough since Kim Jinsu has a major opportunity to re-consolidate himself as the KNT’s starting leftback after a bright comeback season in the K League so far and Park Jooho’s invisible Dortmund year.

Midfield: Lee Myungjoo of Al-Ain seems to have earned a well deserved return to the national team. That elusive perfect partner to Ki Sungyueng has never really come about. We got a look at Lee during the 2016 Asian Champions Leaegue finals and he certainly took on a more defensive role and was fairly effective at it. It will be interesting to see what he can bring to the set-up.

Steve Han also reported that Lee Chungyong, despite seldom featuring for Crystal Palace, returns to the national team by popular request:

But given Koo Jacheol’s absence, and Lee’s rustiness, could it be time for Lee Jaesung to finally step into a deserved first team role? He’s shown in the K League that he simply is on a class of his own:

Forwards: Kim Shinwook picked up a knock and though he’s back in the squad for Jeonbuk, Stielike has opted not to include him. A change of philosophy? Questionable fitness? Both? Meanwhile, Busan’s Lee Jeonghyeop is also injured. Enter Lee Keunho, who many have dubbed to be a K League has-been but now making a highly unexpected return to the national team.

Stielike said

On Son Heungmin:
“While Harry Kane was injured, Son Heungmin played up top as the striker. I’m not worried about his position ; he can play anywhere.”

On Lee Changmin/Hwang Ilsoo/Lee Keunho:
“I saw the Jeju players in the K League and as the remaining team in the ACL and they impressed me. Lee Keunho also is doing considerably better than he has been in Qatar and has showed sharp, penetrative play.”

K League Classic

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

1

Gyeongnam

9

2

Gangwon

9

3

Pohang Steelers

7

4

Jeonbuk Motors

6

5

Suwon Bluewings

4

6

Incheon United

4

7

Jeju United

4

8

Jeonnam Dragons

3

9

Sangju Sangmu

3

10

Seoul

1

11

Daegu

1

12

Ulsan

0

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

March 18, 2018

Suwon Bluewings

1 - 1

Pohang Steelers

Ulsan

0 - 1

Jeju United

Jeonbuk Motors

2 - 1

Seoul

March 17, 2018

Jeonnam Dragons

1 - 3

Gyeongnam

Gangwon

2 - 1

Sangju Sangmu

Incheon United

0 - 0

Daegu

English Premier League

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

1

Manchester City

81

2

Manchester United

65

3

Liverpool

63

4

Tottenham Hotspur

61

5

Chelsea

56

6

Arsenal

48

7

Burnley

43

8

Leicester City

40

9

Everton

40

10

AFC Bournemouth

36

11

Watford

36

12

Brighton & Hov…

34

13

Newcastle United

32

14

Swansea City

31

15

Huddersfield Town

31

16

Crystal Palace

30

17

West Ham United

30

18

Southampton

28

19

Stoke City

27

20

West Bromwich Albion

20

Hwang Heechan

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

1

Red Bull Salzburg

62

Bundesliga

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

1

Bayern München

66

2

Schalke 04

49

3

Borussia Dortmund

48

4

Eintracht Frankfurt

45

5

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

44

6

RB Leipzig

43

7

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

39

8

Stuttgart

37

9

Borussia Mönchengladbach

36

10

Augsburg 1907

35

11

Hertha BSC

35

12

Werder Bremen

33

13

Hannover 96

32

14

SC Freiburg

30

15

Wolfsburg

25

16

1. FSV Mainz 05

25

17

1. FC Köln

20

18

Hamburger SV

18

Kwon Changhoon

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

10

Dijon

38

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The Tavern of the Taeguk Warriors is an online community of Korean football/soccer supporters. We bring you news, analysis and opinion in English about Korean players abroad, youth players and the K League.